Ian Callaghan
Ian Robert Callaghan ( born April 10, 1942 in Toxteth ) is a former English footballer. He holds the record for most appearances for Liverpool FC.
Sports career
Callaghan was a teenager supporters of Liverpool FC and joined the club of the year 1960. In April he made his debut for the club and received with the legendary Bill Shankly a new coach.
As a winger, who was on the right side, Callaghan was a regular player since 1961. During this time, Liverpool was still in the Second Division, but increased under Shankly in 1962 to the elite league.
Callaghan played in the up and coming team that the English Championship and in between could win the FA Cup in 1964 and 1966. Callaghan prepare it in the cup final at Wembley in the decisive header from Ian St John, upholding served him with a cross.
The success with the English Championship in 1966 was awarded with the subsequent defeat in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup a mood damper, but Callaghan was able to, as well as two Liverpool team-mates, with the nomination of Alf Ramsey for the squad the England team for the World Cup 1966 own country comfort.
Callaghan played in the group stage against France, as England won 2-0. However, this was the only game that Callaghan played in the tournament since Ramsey for an innovative game system without conventional wingers, Callaghan embodied decided. The team won after the World Cup and became known as the " wingless wonders ". Callaghan's National team career should be so as good as finished at the age of only 24 years.
The remaining 1960 years passed without major success for Liverpool and Shankly began to restructure the team and rejuvenate. Callaghan benefited with his team-mates Tommy Smith, Chris Lawler and Emlyn Hughes from this development and was, even though he was not even 30 years old, a kind of " elder statesman " figure in a very young team around him. In addition, Callaghan moved from his winger position in a midfield role.
With Callaghan Liverpool reached the final of the FA Cup, but lost the match with 1:2 against Arsenal. Two years later the club won both the English Championship and the UEFA Cup. In 1974 they defeated in the final of the FA Cup Newcastle United 3-0 and won so zweitmalig the trophy. Shortly afterwards, Shankly resigned and Callaghan was thus the only player who was longer in the team as Shankly in office. Callaghan was also in 1974, England's Footballer of the Year and awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to football as a MBE.
Even at the age of 34 years, Callaghan's career slowed down yet and he won in 1976 the double of Bundesliga and the UEFA Cup. The following year, in which Liverpool won the triple from Championship, European Champions Cup and Super Cup, Callaghan came to his fourth and final international match.
Liverpool also lost in the same year only in the FA Cup final against Manchester United. Callaghan was there a substitute for the second half and impressed while his coach Bob Paisley such that this only a few days later considered him for the Euro Cup final against Borussia Moenchengladbach in Rome, which won the team 3-1.
He played one more season for Liverpool, at the end, the club won the national champion competition again, and Callaghan was not used in the final. He then took part in the final of the League Cup, Liverpool lost at Wembley Stadium against Nottingham Forest by a repeat game. The League Cup should be the only domestic trophy that Callaghan could never win.
In the fall of 1978 Callaghan left Liverpool after 857 official matches. He joined his former team-mate John Toshack at Anfield and the club Swansea City and helped the club to two successive ascents. In addition, from time to time was in the U.S. for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, together with the long -time colleague Gordon Banks and George Best, active and closed his career at Crewe Alexandra. Callaghan finished in 1981, at the age of 39 years, his footballing career, which moved him less advanced age but hamstring problems with this step.
Callaghan received after his resignation, only a comparatively small degree of popularity. However, it is still Liverpool's record holder for most games in the first team, the most league games and most European Club Matches. He is also the only one to date Liverpool player who trod a path from the second division player in Liverpool for the European champions.
Achievements
- World Champion: 1966
- European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1977, 1978
- UEFA Cup winners: 1973, 1976
- Super Cup winner: 1977
- English Champion: 1964, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1977
- FA Cup Winners: 1965, 1974
- Community Shield winner: 1964 *, 1965 *, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977 * (*: shared items)